British Actor Alan Rickman Has Died Aged 69

British actor Alan Rickman, whose roles ranged from Hollywood villains to Professor Snape in the Harry Potter films, has died after a battle with cancer, aged 69.

With his aquiline features and cultured - if often menacing - English accent, he became one of Britain's best-known actors of stage and screen over the past 30 years with a career stretching from the Royal Shakespeare Company to sci-fi spoof Galaxy Quest.

His family said he had died surrounded by family and friends.

"Alan was my friend and so this is hard to write because I have just kissed him goodbye," said British actress Emma Thompson who appeared with Rickman in a number of films including Love Actually.

A graduate of London's Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, Rickman got his big break appearing the Broadway version of Les Liaisons Dangereuses in the mid-1980s before making his first major film appearance as Hans Gruber in Die Hard soon afterwards.

That was to be the first of many performances as a villain, including Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street and as the Sheriff of Nottingham in Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, for which he won a Bafta, the British equivalent of an Oscar.

Oh dear. I just found out Alan Rickman died. He was in our subconscious thru all the part he played for so long. I am so sorry..

He also won a Golden Globe and an Emmy during his career and despite his reputation for playing the "baddie", he was also acclaimed for more sensitive roles in films such as Truly Madly Deeply, and Love Actually.

The Guardian newspaper said Rickman was always politically active with the left-wing Labour Party and his wife, Rima Horton, his partner of more than 50 years whom he married in secret last year, had been a Labour councillor in London.

"Brilliant actor, deeply principled man. My heart goes out to Rima and his family," Ed Miliband, Labour's former leader, said on Twitter.

AAP

I'm very sad to hear about Alan today. I feel so lucky to have worked and spent time with such a special man and actor. I'll really miss our conversations. RIP Alan. We love you